I was fortunate to be a member of the Board for the past three years and participate in the development of the 2020 Strategic Plan, which identified the mission of the society as to advance musculoskeletal research worldwide. An ambitious vision for the ORS 2020 as a world without musculoskeletal limitations has defined key strategies and core values that will guide us in achieving this vision. If elected as the 2nd Vice President and subsequently the President, I would be honored to assure that we adhere to and promote scientific excellence and integrity, foster innovation, instill the culture of collaboration and partnership, act as advocates for orthopedic research and patients with musculoskeletal limitations, and promote diversity of membership and diversity of ideas, initiatives and programming. I would especially be honored to continue great traditions and build upon the accomplishments of former ORS presidents that came from Rush. Furthermore, it would be my honor and one of my key goals to continue the efforts of former women presidents of the ORS of bringing more women to the society, ORS Leadership, and Academic Medicine. I envision the ORS as an international hub for all involved in orthopedic, and more broadly, musculoskeletal research with members from emerging areas of research worldwide joining the society. The ORS should focus on innovative basic and clinical multidisciplinary research, innovative education, and innovative delivery of education across the globe in collaboration with local communities, relevant societies, and regulatory agencies. To accomplish this, we need to nurture our existing sponsorships and seek new and sustainable corporate and industrial sponsors with innovative models of partnership and support. After achieving such goals set for the 2020 vision, the time will come during my presidency to re-assess the state of the society and set the stage for the next 5-years to ensure ORS diversity, vitality, prosperity, and leadership in creating the world without musculoskeletal limitations.

I welcome the opportunity to serve the ORS, an organization that has been central to my development as a research scientist. Although I have been active in the society for over 20 years, I have not served in any leadership position, and I would like to ͞pay back͟ the society and the members whose efforts have greatly benefited me. I appreciate the invaluable role the ORS plays in the communities of musculoskeletal research and orthopedics, and in the broader world of science and medicine. I would be honored to do my share to continue the work of the society. I am also motivated by the chance to learn from and interact with the talented and diverse members and staff who lead the ORS; I know it will be professionally and personally rewarding. I believe I am suited for the role of Treasurer, being experienced with quantitative analysis, computation and the practice of distilling complex data into clear results statements and conclusions. Finally, having worked in orthopaedics for more than 30 years, I have had a range of professional experiences that will serve me well as ORS Treasurer. I feel both well prepared and motivated to serve in this challenging role at this time.

Daniel McDonald, PhD 2018 – 2020 Member-at-Large

I have spent my entire scientific career in the musculoskeletal research field and I would like to continue to contribute to its advancement. My graduate work dealt with fundamental cell biologic aspects of bone cell metabolism. As a junior Orthopaedic Surgery Department faculty member at Johns Hopkins, and research lab Director, my decade of independent academic research dealt with morphologic/biochemical evaluations of aspects of normal growth and development of the musculoskeletal system, and associated disease (e.g., multiple myeloma, chondrodysplasias, osteogenesis imperfecta, ectopic calcification), and degenerative (aseptic loosening of total hip replacements) conditions. Subsequently, during my 30 years as a SRO in the Center for Scientific Review/NIH, I ultimately formed and/or coordinated the efforts of five different standing Study Sections, which collectively assessed research project grant applications pertaining to: normal and clinical, basic and applied aspects of the various musculoskeletal system components in terms of physiological and bioengineering principles and their response to normal loading, injury, aging and disease; clinical gerontology and musculoskeletal rehabilitation medicine; basic/translational aspects of skeletal muscle and exercise physiology; and aspects of normal/diseased kidney function, and mineral metabolism. Although I am now retired from NIH, I would like to continue to be involved in the musculoskeletal field, hopefully serving as a resource to help inform and guide the next generation of scientists as they seek to further expand our knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and remedies for the disorders that affect it.